The Lady Vols started off the season 4-0 in a tournament in Florida. The competition was OK but not elite by any stretch, but a way to get the season rolling. They go back to Florida on Thursday against much stiffer opponents and that should give us a better idea where the team really stands.
It appears that they have solved their depth problems on the mound from last year. Rogers was treated like a rented mule, with more pitches than any other in the SEC. That showed later in the year as she started getting the ball over the center of the plate and giving up homers. No doubt she is awarder, and damn good to boot, but depth was an issue. She was wrong out.
On the batting side we seem to be fine with the long ball but still struggled against pitching at a lower level than they will experience in some non-SEC games and in all of the SEC. But In the last game they did hit the ball better, so hopefully they are getting their hitting legs under them.
It is too early to make any predictions or make too much of these first 4 games. It does look like we will be OK at pitcher and if the bats come around they should be really good. Time will tell but look to this next tourney for some strong indicators.
It appears that they have solved their depth problems on the mound from last year. Rogers was treated like a rented mule, with more pitches than any other in the SEC. That showed later in the year as she started getting the ball over the center of the plate and giving up homers. No doubt she is awarder, and damn good to boot, but depth was an issue. She was wrong out.
On the batting side we seem to be fine with the long ball but still struggled against pitching at a lower level than they will experience in some non-SEC games and in all of the SEC. But In the last game they did hit the ball better, so hopefully they are getting their hitting legs under them.
It is too early to make any predictions or make too much of these first 4 games. It does look like we will be OK at pitcher and if the bats come around they should be really good. Time will tell but look to this next tourney for some strong indicators.
